Internal Medicine
Online ISSN : 1349-7235
Print ISSN : 0918-2918
ISSN-L : 0918-2918
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Decreased Levels of Circulating α2-Heremans-Schmid Glycoprotein/Fetuin-A (AHSG) in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Hiroe SatoJunichiro J KazamaYoko WadaTakeshi KurodaIchiei NaritaFumitake GejyoPing GaoHiroyuki Yamashita
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JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2007 Volume 46 Issue 20 Pages 1685-1692

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Abstract

Objective Alpha2-Heremans Schmid glycoprotein/Fetuin-A (AHSG) is a circulating negative acute-phase protein, which inhibits bimineralization. It is often considered as a potential mediator between chronic inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. The metabolism of AHSG in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown.
Methods Serum AHSG concentrations were measured in 102 patients with RA using a newly developed indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results The serum AHSG levels in the RA patients were significantly lower than that in healthy volunteers (249.8 ± 84.1 vs 425.0 ± 93.0 μg/ml, P<0.0001). Serum C-reactive protein concentration and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were inversely correlated, while albumin, hemoglobin and total cholesterol were positively correlated with AHSG. Current serum AHSG levels did not affect the presence of aortic calcification, whereas cumulative glucocorticoid dosage was significantly related to aortic calcification (P=0.005).
Conclusion Serum AHSG levels were significantly decreased in patients with RA. The levels reflected inflammatory and malnutritional conditions. Its role in the development of cardiovascular diseases or inflammatory bone resorption remain uncertain in RA patients.

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© 2007 by The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
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